How to Avoid Fake Coupons

When I first started to coupon I really wasn't sure how to tell if a coupon was fake or not, really never gave it any thought. Since technology is growing so fast there are some people out there that will take advantage of coupons and will photocopy or make their own FAKE coupons, pass them around as real.

The real down fall to FAKE coupons are that companies will start to limit the amount of coupons they send out or just stop all together. The people that are affected are couponers that use them properly for products, are now no longer able to get them.

Here are some easy things to look for:

• Printing Coupons. Most coupons are found on major coupon sites such as SmartSource, RedPlum, Save, GoCoupons or on a manufacturer or store's website.
• Offers that are too good to be true. No store is going to offer a coupon that features $50 off with no minimum purchase required that would be a counterfeit coupon
• Look for expiration date on coupon. Counterfeit coupons often have no expiration date
• Missing Important Information. Read the coupon to see whether the manufacturer or store offers its contact information. Counterfeit coupons usually don't include this information
• Look at the wording on coupons. on the coupon's counterfeit coupons will have words misspelled
• Contact The Company. If you are not 100 % sure if the coupon you have is fake you can always contact the company by sending them a email or by calling them this information is available on the manufactures website.

Store retailers will look for:

1. Manufacturer Coupon printed on them

2. Valid name and Canadian mailing address

3. Valid expiration date

4. Scanable bar code